Resistance Exercise Device for Personal Use

ABSTRACT

A motion resistance and static resistance personal exercise device is provided. The device comprises a pneumatic cylinder and handled piston that resist motion of a user, while elastic resistance bands are utilized between the cylinder and the piston handle to add static resistance to pulling exercises. The cylinder comprises an outwardly extending foot pad, while the piston comprises a handle portion to force the piston in and out of the cylinder. At least one set of opposing resistance band hooks are disposed on the device. Resistance is developed against pushing and pulling motion of the piston handle by way of an air valve on the cylinder, which controls air exiting and entering thereinto. The resistance bands add static resistance and an increase in resistance load required by a pulling user. The device is utilized to exercise the user&#39;s upper, lower, and core body regions using a pushing and pulling motion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/731,187 filed on Nov. 29, 2012. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to personal exercise equipment. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a pneumatic and band resistance exercise device that is adapted to provide resistance to pulling and pushing of a piston through a cylinder using air pressure and resistance bands, a foot pad, and a piston handle.

Regular exercise is an essential part of maintaining one's health and fitness, particularly with age. Many individuals incorporate a workout regimen into their daily routine, making time to go to the gym or go for a run to maintain health and prevent weight gain. However, not all individuals have the schedule flexibility to make dedicated trips to the gym or go for outdoor exercise. Alternatives to these approaches are in-home gyms and personal work out equipment that can be used in the comfort and convenience of one's own home.

In-home gym equipment ranges from hand weights and bands, to larger assemblies and complete home gym setups. The more complicated home gyms require extensive space and are expensive for most. Alternatives are personal workout devices that focus the exercise to certain portions of the body, whereby the exercise device can be deployed when required and stowed when not in use, and further is not a great expense for a user. The present invention relates to a personal exercise device that is capable of focusing on several parts of the body and functions by coordinating resistance to pulling and pushing between the lower body and upper body of the user.

Specifically, the present invention provides users with a resistance exercise machine that provides a combination of static resistance and motion resistance. The device comprises a pneumatic piston-cylinder assembly having a foot pad portion and a handle grip portion. The foot pad secures to the base of the cylinder and the handle grip portion extends from the end of the piston. The piston is driven into the cylinder, wherein the resistance to motion (in the form of damping) is metered using an air valve on the cylinder. Elastic resistance bands extend between the foot pad and the handle grip to apply a static tension on the handle grip portion. The user straps his or her feet to the foot pad and applies traction or extension loads on the handle grip portion. The assembly is useful for exercising the upper body, the lower body, and the user's core using different exercise techniques thereon. Overall, the assembly provides a new, useful and inexpensive means of personal workout equipment.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to personal exercise equipment. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications, and generally relate to portable resistance device with a handled end and an opposite end that is either supported along the floor, by the user's lower body, or by a chair. The present invention contemplates a resistance means that is a combination of pneumatic pressure and elastic band resistance, wherein this combination is not contemplated in the art. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

One such device in the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 7,569,003 to Huffman, which discloses an exercise device that comprises a hydraulic cylinder attached to a lower bar, and a piston connected to an upper bar. The upper bar includes handle grips for pressing the piston into the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the lower bars are placed along the lower body of an exercising user. The cylinder is oil or air filled and provides resistance to both pushing and pulling motions. This device is indicative of the art in that it provides a motion resistance exercise device without any static tension being applied to the handle grip portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,785 to Marcus discloses a similar device of that of Huffman, wherein a pump exercise assembly is provided comprising a piston-cylinder device having a handle and laterally spaced foot rests. The Marcus device adds cylindrical weights with axial apertures that removably attached to the end sections of the handle portion to add mass thereto and thus increase resistance on the user. The Marcus device, however, fails to contemplate dedicated resistance band attachment hooks on the pump device, which adds a static resistance element thereto and increases the overall force required by a user, which is required by stronger users.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0238588 to Butler discloses yet another similar resistance exercise device. The Butler device comprises an elongated track between a head member and a base, wherein resistance is developed along the track via a slidable cuff and friction therebetween. The cuff slides along the track using guide wheels and a biased friction mechanism that resists motion of the cuff along the track as the user pushes and pulls the cuff between the head member and the base. The friction member comprises a brake mechanism or friction-producing pad. While this device comprises a similar architecture with the present invention, its method of developing resistance significantly diverges from that of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,119 to Johnson discloses an exercise device specifically suited for user exercise while seated in a chair. The device comprises a push bar supported within a vertical column, wherein the push bar is forced into the vertical column and a compression spring is utilized as a means of resistance against this motion. The base of the push bar includes a pivoting base, while the push bar includes a horizontal bar that is adapted to rest against the user's upper body. A seated user presses his or her upper body against the push bar while the column base is against the floor. The slow “crunch” motion exercises the core of the user's body while seated. The Johnson device, while providing a novel core exercise device that is low impact, fails to provide a device that can be utilized between the feet and upper body of a user in different exercise routines. The present invention provides a foot pad and a piston with a handled upper portion. The user can exercise a number of different muscle groups by positioning the user's feet and core/upper body at different relative positions.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,941 to Resk discloses a personal exercise device that comprises a piston assembly having a first and second handle end and a cylinder assembly adapted to accept the piston assembly. The device utilizes air pressure within the cylinder to develop a static pressure, wherein a normally closed valve pin is utilized to increase the cylinder air pressure to a desired static pressure prior to the exercise commencing. The user presses the handles together, thereby compressing the air within the cylinder volume. The static pressure of the cylinder increases as the cylinder is pressed thereinto, wherein the user dictates the initial pressure via a pump device that fills the cylinder with air. While the Resk device utilizes a pneumatic system to develop a resistive force, it differs from the present invention in that the present invention contemplates an air valve whose air valve opening can be controlled by the user. This creates a constant resistive force against the user, wherein the resistive force is against motion only. Elastic resistance bands are incorporated to add static resistance to the device if desired, using the resistance band hooks provide support therefor.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,685 to Chen discloses a similar device as those described above, wherein the resistive force is provided by a spring member that resides within a cylinder tub as a push piece is pressed thereinto. The spring member is attached to a threaded sleeve that can be rotated to change the free length of the spring and thus the resistive force provided thereby during the exercise. As with the aforementioned devices, the Chen device fails to anticipate the combination pneumatic and elastic band resistance provided herein. The Chen device provides static resistance only, wherein the present invention contemplates using a combination pneumatic and spring-type resistance assembly. The spring-type resistance of the present invention is the elasticity of the resistance bands, which act as linear springs between the foot pad and the handled piston.

The present invention contemplates a personal exercise device that utilizes a piston-cylinder configuration and a controllable air valve to develop a constant pressure on the piston handled portion as it is pressed into the cylinder. This resistance is to motion of the handle. To complement the motion resistance and to increase the overall resistive force, elastic resistance bands are deployed between the piston handle portion and the foot pad to provide a static resistance means. Overall, it is submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing personal resistance exercise devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of personal exercise device now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new resistance type exercise device that can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when exercising the lower body, upper body, and core region of a user using a combination of static and motion resistance.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved personal resistance exercise device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal resistance exercise device that can be utilized by a standing user or a standing user to exercise different muscle groups of the body, wherein the device can be deployed in the gym, at home, or at one's place of employment for shorter or more rigorous workout routines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal resistance exercise device that comprises a pneumatic cylinder and piston device, wherein resistive force is developed through motion of the piston through the cylinder and the magnitude of the force to motion is determined by an adjustable air valve on the cylinder wall, which dictates the rate of air flow into and from the cylinder during the piston motion.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a personal resistance exercise device that incorporates elastic resistance bands in conjunction with the pneumatic motion resistance, wherein the resistance bands add a static resistance and an overall increase in resistance the device is capable of developing during exercises.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal resistance exercise device that contemplates use of specifically made resistance bands or commonly available resistance bands, wherein both are attached to the device between the handled portion of the piston and the base of the cylinder using a pair of resistance band hooks that secure the ends thereof during the exercise.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal resistance exercise device that provides a sleek look, wherein the bands do not interfere with the user during the exercise motion and are positioned closely against the cylinder for improved aesthetics and for reduced interference with the user's legs during operation.

A final object of the present invention is to provide a personal resistance exercise that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the personal resistance exercise device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the elastic resistance bands attached to the device and contemplated resistance band hooks for retaining the same along the device length.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the footpad and lower portion of the personal resistance exercise device.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section view of the pneumatic cylinder of the present invention and the contemplated valve means of controlling the constant resistive pressure within the cylinder as the piston is advanced and withdrawn from the cylinder interior.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a contemplated resistance band being applied to the personal resistance exercise device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a close-up view of an embodiment of the resistance band hook provided along the piston handled portion.

FIG. 7 shows the personal resistance exercise device in use by a standing user, wherein the user's core, lower body, and upper body can be exercised using different body movements.

FIG. 8 shows another view of the personal resistance exercise device in a working state, wherein the user is in a seated position along the floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the personal resistance exercise device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for exercising different muscle groups of the body with a readily portable and deployable resistance device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the personal resistance exercise device of the present invention. The device comprises a pneumatic cylinder 11 having an upper end and a lower end. Attached to the lower end of the cylinder 11 is a foot pad 16, which extends outward laterally therefrom and provides a first and second foot pad surface 17 along opposing sides of the cylinder 11 for a user to press his or her feet thereagainst. Along the upper end of the cylinder is a sealed aperture that is adapted to accept an elongated piston member 12 therethrough. The piston member 12 comprises an elongated arm 12 having a piston end and a handled upper end 19. The piston member 12 is slidable within the cylinder aperture and a gasket seals the gap therebetween to prevent any air from exiting or entering the cylinder 11 therethrough.

The piston member 12 comprises an elongated length that comprises a static length or one that is comprised of a pair of telescoping members. In its telescoping configuration, a lower telescoping member 13 is slidably attached to an upper telescoping member 14 and secured together via a pinned connection 15 that lock the two into a static relationship relative to one another. This configuration allows the user to adjust the overall length of the piston member 12 to accommodate his or her body dimensions and to accommodate different workout exercises. The length of the piston member 12 dictates the position of the handled portion 19 thereof, and thus the range of motion of the exercise and the outer extent with which the handle portion 19 may be positioned relative to the upper end of the cylinder 11.

The handled portion 19 of the piston member comprises a first and second handle grip member 10 extending outward from the piston. These members provide handle grips for the user to grasp the piston and apply pulling or pushing force thereagainst. The handled portion 19 may comprise a straight bar or an “easy-curl” bar having a defined shape that facilitates a more ergonomic grip position. As the piston member 12 is advanced or retracted from the cylinder, air pressure therein dictates the resistance to this motion. Air within the cylinder 11 evacuates the cylinder interior volume via an air valve 20 disposed thereon. This valve 20 is adjustable by the user to allow for greater or reduced flow rates therethrough. The flow rate through the valve is determined by the degree with which the valve is opened or closed, wherein air at a given flow rate can pass therethrough with much lower pressure when the valve is more open, and vice versa. Therefore, the developed resistance to the piston motion in the cylinder is dictated by the valve 20 open position, wherein pressure will be developed in the cylinder when the valve is more closed, and therefore greater force will be required to force the same volume of air through the valve than that required when the valve is positioned in a more open configuration. This resistance is a damping force that resists motion, and is controlled by the flow rate through the valve 20. For those wishing greater resistance, the valve can be positioned nearly closed and vice versa.

The resistive force developed by the pneumatic cylinder and piston functions only when the piston is in motion, wherein a resistive force is developed thereagainst in both the advancing and retracting directions of the piston as air exits and enters the cylinder, respectively. To complement this motion resistance and to increase the overall resistance possible, elastic resistance bands are added to the device to provide a static resistance means.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, there are shown views of a contemplated attachment means for at least one resistance band 40 to the device. The attachment means comprise an upper 31 and lower 30 resistance band hook that are vertically aligned and adapted to secure the opposing ends of a resistance band thereto. The lower hook 30 comprises a downward facing hook that secures the lower end of the resistance band to the outer surface of the cylinder 11 or to the foot pad (embodiment not shown). The upper hook 31 likewise comprises an upward directed hook that is disposed along the piston member 12 length or is supported along the underside of one of the handle grip members 10 (see FIG. 6). These hooks secure the ends of a resistance band along the length of the device between the handle portion 19 of the piston and the cylinder 11. The lower hook 30 may be provided anywhere along the cylinder 11 length or along the footpad 16, while the hooks may also take on different designs or structures for securing the ends of a resistance band therebetween. It is not desired to limit the structure of the resistance band attachment means to those shown and described, but rather to disclose a structure (static structure or one with a clamping means) that secures the ends of a resistance band 40 and operably releases the same.

The resistance band 40 or bands (plural) are secured along the length of the device and are positioned closely against the cylinder 11 to avoid interfering with the user's lower body during exercise motions. It is contemplated that the resistance band attachment means may be deployed along the sides of the cylinder 11 and aligned with the food pad surfaces 17, or alternatively the attachment means may be positioned along the backside of the cylinder and not aligned with the foot pad surfaces 17 to avoid any possible interference. The attachment means (e.g. hooks or the like) may support a single band or multiple bands each, and there may be more than one set of attachment means deployed on the device, as shown in FIG. 1. During use, the user straps his or her feet into foot straps 18 positioned along each foot pad surface 17, applies any desired bands to the device, sets the valve 20 position, and begins the exercise for the muscle group to be exercised.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a close-up view of the footpad 16 of the present invention and the lower end of the cylinder 11. This view illustrates the foot pad surfaces 17 and their relation to the cylinder 11 end, along with the foot straps 18 disposed thereon. The foot straps 18 comprise an elongated strap having complimentary strips of hook and loop fasteners or similar strap attachment means 22 along their length. The strap 18 is secured to the foot pad surface 17 at one end, is placed through a loop along an opposing side of the footpad surface 17, and doubles back onto itself wherein the strap attachment means 22 can secure to each other. The user positions his or her foot under the strap 18 and pulls the strap length through the loop to tighten the attachment, whereafter the strap 18 is secured over the user's foot via the strap attachment means. The straps 18 provide a means to secure the user's feet during different exercises, wherein the user does not have to position the foot pad 16 against a ground surface during an exercise and is free to position his or her legs anywhere and retain the ability to force the piston into the cylinder 11. This also allows the user to position his or her body in different positions to work different muscle groups, including lower body lifting, core exercises, and upper body pushing and pulling exercises, wherein the base of the cylinder 11 remains attached to the user's feet.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross section view of the cylinder 11 of the present invention. The piston end 51 of the piston member 12 comprises a surface substantially equal to the surface area of the cylinder interior volume such that when the piston end 51 is advanced or retracted therein, air cannot readily leak past the piston end 51 and reduce the resistive pressure on the piston 51 during movement. The air within the cylinder 11 is evacuated or drawn through the air valve 20 such that the pressure within the cylinder 11 is relatively constant during the piston end 51 movement. The valve 20 opening is adjustable by the user to allow for a larger or smaller opening therethrough, and thus variable requirements for pressure to evacuate or fill the cylinder during changes in its interior volume. This piston-cylinder arrangement should be well understood in the art of pneumatic and hydraulic piston-cylinder devices. The present invention contemplates an air valve to provide a constant resistive force to motion during the piston movement. This resistive force is used to exercise the muscles of the user applying force to the handle portion of the piston.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, two different resistance band attachment means are provided, wherein the resistance band 40 is positioned between the cylinder 11 and the handle portion 19 of the piston member 12. One contemplates upper hook 31 is positioned on the piston member length and includes an upstanding hook and reinforcement gusset (FIG. 5). A second embodiment contemplates an upper hook 32 disposed along the base of the handle grip 10 of the piston handle portion 19. These hooks both align with a complimentary lower hook 30, wherein the pairs can be positioned anywhere around the circumference of the device to avoid interferences, as previously noted. The exact design and structure of the resistance band attachment means may take on several different forms, falling within the scope of securing the upper 41 and lower 42 ends of an elongated resistance band 40 to the piston handle portion 19 and to the cylinder exterior surface or foot pad 16.

Referring finally to FIGS. 7 and 8, there are shown different body positions of a user while placing pulling and pushing force on the handle portion 19 of the piston member 12, wherein the feet of the user are secured within the straps 18 of the foot pad 16. The handle portion 19 in FIG. 7 represents the curved, easy-curl design thereof; however this handled portion may also comprise a straight bar. Many different exercise motions and body positions are contemplated in conjunction with the device of the present invention, wherein it is submitted that the device is suitable for providing a workout apparatus that can exercise the lower body (legs, gluteal muscles, etc.) of a user, the core region (abdomen, hips, lower back, etc.), and the upper body (upper back, arms, latissimus dorsi muscles, shoulders, etc.) of a user. These different muscle groups can all be exercised with different body positions and body/limb motions relative to the motion of the piston and cylinder. The amount of resistance can be varied depending on the body position and relative strength of these muscle groups during the exercise to provide an adjustable workout device that does not require a larger apparatus to achieve whole-body results.

It is contemplated that that device can be used in a seated position while on the floor or in a chair, in a bent over or upright configuration, or even an inverted position with the user's feet in the air. The user extends different parts of his or her body and positions his or her core and legs to target specific body locations during the resistive motion. For lighter work outs, the pneumatic motion resistance provided by the piston and cylinder is enough force. For higher strength users and for higher load workouts, the resistance bands are added to provide static and dynamic resistance, and an overall greater resistance load if so desired.

Most people hope to incorporate a workout regimen into their daily routine. Many exercise programs, however, involve more time than most people can afford to spend working out. Additionally, a lot of equipment is large and expensive to purchase, making it difficult for people to have regular access to the same. This can cause many to forego regular exercise and can lead to unfit and eventually unhealthy individuals over time. Poor muscle tone, mid-body fat from over eating and reduced metabolism, and muscle imbalance problems can result in poor health, poor posture, and injuries as a result of weak areas of the body (back pain, for instance). Those who have sedentary occupations are particularly at risk. Therefore, an exercise device is desired that can work all parts of a user's body without requiring extensive equipment and excessive costs, or requiring the user to exercise at a particular location.

The present invention provides such an exercise device that is suited for personal use and use in any area that accommodates the range of motion of a user. The device comprises a resistance device that comprises a pneumatic piston-cylinder and a means of supporting resistance bands. The device supports both pulling and pushing motions, wherein the device can be adjusted to accommodate the size of the user and the given range of motion of the user during the chosen exercise. This enables users to perform a wide range of exercises at home, at work or on the go, and allows people to exercise different muscle groups across the body while increasing both heart rate and cardiovascular intake, whereby motion resistance via air pressure and static resistance via resistance bands are provided to resist both pushing and pulling motions.

It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) A personal resistance exercise device for providing operable motion resistance and static resistance to pulling and pushing motion of a user, comprising: a pneumatic cylinder having a cylinder upper end and a cylinder lower end; said cylinder upper end comprising an aperture therethrough; a foot pad extending outward from said cylinder lower end and having a first and second foot pad surface; a piston member comprising an elongated length, a handled upper end, and a lower piston end; said piston end slidably positioned within said cylinder and said piston member length adapted to be slidably positioned within said aperture of said cylinder upper end; an air valve disposed on said cylinder for allowing air to communicate therefrom and thereinto as said piston end is advanced and retracted, respectively; at least one pair of vertically aligned resistance band attachment means comprising an upper resistance band attachment means disposed on said piston member and a lower resistance band attachment means; said upper resistance band attachment means and said lower resistance band attachment means adapted to support an elastic resistance band between said piston member and said cylinder. 2) The personal resistance exercise device of claim 1, wherein: said air valve further comprises a valve having a user-adjustable structure to vary the valve opening thereof. 3) The personal resistance exercise device of claim 1, wherein said foot pad surfaces further comprise: foot straps adapted to secure a user's foot to each foot pad surface. 4) The personal resistance exercise device of claim 1, wherein said handled end of said piston member further comprises a first and second handle grip extending outward from said piston member. 5) The personal resistance exercise device of claim 1, wherein said upper resistance band attachment means and said lower resistance band attachment means further comprises: an upper resistance band hook and a lower resistance band hook, respectively; said upper resistance band hook being disposed along said piston member length; said lower resistance band hook being disposed along said cylinder. 6) The personal resistance exercise device of claim 1, wherein said upper resistance band attachment means and said lower resistance band attachment means further comprises: an upper resistance band hook and a lower resistance band hook, respectively; said upper resistance band hook being disposed along said piston member length; said lower resistance band hook being disposed along said foot pad surface. 7) The personal resistance exercise device of claim 1, wherein said upper resistance band attachment means and said lower resistance band attachment means further comprises: an upper resistance band hook and a lower resistance band hook, respectively; said upper resistance band hook being disposed along said handle end of said piston member; said lower resistance band hook being disposed along said cylinder. 8) The personal resistance exercise device of claim 1, wherein said upper resistance band attachment means and said lower resistance band attachment means further comprises: an upper resistance band hook and a lower resistance band hook, respectively; said upper resistance band hook being disposed along said handle end of said piston member; said lower resistance band hook being disposed along said foot pad surface. 9) The personal resistance exercise device of claim 1, wherein said handled end of said piston member further comprises a first and second handle grip extending outward from said piston member in a straight bar configuration. 10) The personal resistance exercise device of claim 1, wherein said handled end of said piston member further comprises a first and second handle grip extending outward from said piston member in a curved, easy-curl bar configuration. 